Improved boiler-feeder



section at w ai, Figs. l and 2. transverse section-at w x.

transverse section of a portion ofthe appaied arrangement of some of theparts.

. 8 is a vertical transverse section at u u, Fig.4

UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE I. WASHEUEN, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

|MP`RovED Boden-FEEDER.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,408, dated january26,'1S64.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. WASHEURN, of the city and count-y ofVorcester and State of 'Massachusetts have. invented av new and ImprovedAutomatic Apparatus for Elevating fat-er and Supplying Steam-Boilers;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, in which- Figure l is a -pl'an of the saidapparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same at v o,Fig. 1. Fig. 3A is a trans-verse Fig. 5 is a vertical ratus. at y y.'Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection at z z, Figs. 2, 3, and 4.. Fig. 7 is asection in the same plane as Fig. 2, illustrating a modi Fig.

7. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the rockshaft representing theoscillating hollpw arms in elevation. Fig. 10 is a plan or top View ofthe said shaft and arms.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalviews.

The principal object of my present invention is to produce an automaticapparatus which will elevate water with economy and rapidity; and this Iaccomplish by t-he instantaneous condensation of steam under anypressurewithin closed chambers.

The apparatus which may be used in carrying out my invention, and whichI shall proceed-to describe as illustrativeof the same, consists,essentially, of two ormore closed chambers, each of' which isthrown-alternately into communication with the boiler and with acondensing-chamber, to which the supplypipe has constant access througha port which may, if preferred, be provided ywith a checkvalve topreventany reilux of water which might occur immediately before `or atthe inyshaft, all of which are madehollowandcom Fig. 4 is av municatewith thegrst-named chambers in manner hereinafter described.

AA". represent a pair of steam-tight chambers extending transverselyacross two troughs or chambers, B B2, of unequal length, each of whichcommunicates with both the said chambers through ports guarded by valvesb b b2 b2, the valves bin the channel B opening upward,- and the valvesZ in the channel B"7 downward. -The long channel B', I denominate thecold-Water trough, and-the short channel IE2 the hot-water trough.H

C represents a third chamber rising from the rear end of the cold-watertrough Bl', with l which it is in free communication. lThe lastnamedconstitutes the condensiiig-chamber, and may extend to a vheight doublethat of the chambers A A".

D is a hollow shaft, fitted to turn within stean'i-tightjoints in theadjacent walls ofthe chamber' A A2. The interior of this shaft isdivided a partition, d, sothat one end, d',

may open into-the chamber A', and the other K end, d2, into the chamberA`, while no communication exists between them. y

' E E2 are hollow spheres attached to the ends of hollow arms ef e2,which communicate with the interior of theshallt D on opposite 7 Thevalve is moved bythe oscillation 'of the shaft D by means of a cross, H,formed with a short arm, h, fitting loosely in an ap# erture in theshaft D, a long arm,.l, projecting upward through the steam-portf intoan aperture in tue Valve G, and horizontal arms h2 h2, working in guidesI I. (See Fig. 4.)

` In Figs. 7 and 8 the shaft D is represented as placed in the lowerpartof the chambers A A2. This affords room for the introduction ofsmall pipesjf, extending within the shaft e `amies apart or approachingmore nearly to horizontal positions, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, so thatthe weight of water within the balls will be more effect-ive inoscillating the shaft.

A smaller oscillation of the shaft may then be made to move the valve tothe required extent by the use of arigid arm, H', attached to andprojecting upward from the shaft and engaging in the forked end of thearm h, as shown in Fig. li5-or the said arm h may be elongated to reachthe shaft, or an intermediate leverintroduced and the width of the portsin the valve-seat reduced to any required eX- tent.

The valve-chest communicates throughthe port fwith thc interior of thechamber A', through the port and pipe K with the interior ofthe chamberA2, and through the port Z and pipe L with the condensing-chamber C.rllhe said pipe L is of arched or Siphon form, rising to someheightabove the top of the chamber A and extending down within thecondensingchamber to near its bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, so as todeliver steam in the llower part.

M is a steam-pipe leading from the steamspace ofthe boiler to theinterior of the valvechest.

N is a pipe communicating from the waterspace of the boiler to thehot-water trough B2.

O is a water-supply pipe taking water from any suitable reservoir notmore than thirty-two feet below and delivering it through a port guardedby a valve, o, opening upward .into

the cold-water trough B', directly, beneath the condensing-chambenC.

Qperation Steam is iirstblown through the apparatus to expel the air,and it is then permit-ted to condense by external radiation in all partsofthe apparatus, excepting those which are in communication with theboiler. The various parts being placed in the positions shown, thevacuum produced'by condensation within the chambers A2 and C and ball Elwill cause them to be lillcd with water forced by atmospheric pressureup through the pipe O, any water which may have been in the chamber Adescending through the port b2, Fig. 4, into theboiler until the waterfinds its level in the boiler and in the said chamber, which,

together with the ball E', is now in communication with the steam-space.This period of the operation is showrr in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 of thedrawings. The weight of water within the ball E2 will now overbalancethe empty ball E', and turn the shaft D in the direction indicated byarrow lin Fig. 5, .which throws the valve G to the other extremity ofits stroke, placing the chamber A in communication with thecondensing-chamber C and the chamber A2 in communication with thevalve-chest and the steam-space o f the boiler. The water in the chamber'L will then-flow down into the boiler until it finds its level. At thesame time an equilibrium of pressure is established between the chambersB and C, when the water within the chamber C will descendby its gravity.and till the chamber B andbal E', the steam which-the chamber and ballcontained passing through the pipes j and L, and being delivered beneaththe water within the condensing-chamber C, by which means it isinstantaneously condensed without previous expansion vor reduction ofpressure. The vacuum thus formed causes a new supply of water to beforced up through the pipe O by atmospheric pressure, until the chambersA and G and ball lil are completely filled with water, which, by turningthcshaft D in the direction of arrow 2, causes the position ofthe valveG to be again reversed, emptying the chamber B into the boiler,condensing the steam within theI chamber-B2, and refilling thelatterwith fresh water, when the work. proceeds as before.

The invention is applicable to the purposes of a steam engine condenserand boiler-feeder, as above described, or may be used for elevatingwat-er for other purposes-in any place where steam is available to workit.

As condensation and the consequent removal of atmospheric pressure .isalone depended on .for power, the apparatus may be operated without costby connecting 'it with the exhaust-port of any non-condensing engine, soas to employ waste steam either with or withouta pressure in excess ofthat of' the atmosphere.

- i The check-valve o is useful in preventing any reflux of water beforethe steam can be condensed. It also admits of the condensation ofhigh-pressure steam, without previous expansiomand within a smallerchamber than would otherwise be practicable Without loss of power.Whatever the pressure of steam introduced, any redux of water-will beprevented by the instantaneous closure -ot' the check-valve, and thesteam thus confined will be condensed by being driven into the body ofwater in the. condenser by the gravity of the said water, as beforeexplained.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to any particularform of the valve G, or of the devices for operating it,but propose tovary the same in any manner which may be found desirable consistentlywith'the essenti-aly principles upon which the apparatus wor-ks.

A single slide-valve of large size, operated by means analogous to thosedescribed for operating the valve G, may be substituted for the fourcheck-valves between the chambers A A and channels B' B2. Thesaid-slidevalve will work within a hot-water chest communicating withthe steam-spaceof the boiler and overthree ports, the center onecommunicating with the condensingchamber C, and the end ports with therespective chambers Af and A2. This valve will be worked simultaneouslywith the valve G, so that when the upper part of either chamber isplaced in communication with the valve-chest F, (and consequently withthe steam-space of the boiler,) the lower part of the lsame chamber willbe lin communication with the water-space of the boiler, and when theupper part of either chamber isplaced in communication with the pipeL,Which leads into the condensing-chamber C, the lower partV of the samecharnbe` will communicate with the lower part of the condensing-chamber.v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

, 1. Condensing a body of steam. within an apparatus having no externaloutlet, by forcing it from one chamber to another by the gravity ofwater and causingitto pass be neath `the surface of, 'and in contactwith, the water in the chamber into .which it is forced, substantiallyas herein described.

.2. In a condensing or pumping apparatus, operating substantially on theprinciple specified, the use of acheck-valve o, operating as described,to prevent the reflux of water into or down the supply-pipe.

3. The combination of the houow divided shaft D, chambers A A2 E Ez, andvalve G, operating'substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the rod Hwith the oscillating shaft D and valveA Gfor imparting motion to the'said valve, as explained.

' 5. The chambers A', A?, and C, and troughs 1B B2, operating togetherin manner subsstanA tially as and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my improved apparatus for elevating water andsupplying steam-boi1ers,signed this l24th day of Septem.

ber, 1863.

.GEO. I. VASHBURN.

' Vitnesses: v

JAMES H. GRIDLEY, CHARLES SMITH.

